James Willis Nesmith, born 1820, died 1885 -- U.S. Senator and U.S. Congressman Nesmith Point and the town of Nesmith, both in Oregon are named after the Honorable James Willis Nesmith. Go to Official Congressional Biography
	Nesmith Point, Multnomah, Oregon. Elevation 3778 feet, is the highest point on the cliffs overlooking the Columbia River in the gorge through the Cascade Range. It is just south of Warrendale and east of Yeon Mountain. The point was named as the result of a suggestion made in 1915 by a committee of the Mazamas who selected a number of place names for unnamed geographic features adjacent to the new Columbia River Highway. James Willis Nesmith was born in New Brunswick July 23, 1820, while his parents, residents of Maine, were on a short trip. The Nesmith family was of Scottish ancestry, and came to New England from the north of Ireland in 1718. James W. Nesmith, as the result of his father's financial reverses, had no early advantages, and was forced to lead a more or less roving life eventually reaching the state of Ohio. He attempted to emigrate to Oregon in 1842, but was too late to join Dr. White's party that year. He was a member of the emigration of 1843, and was elected orderly sergeant. For his diary of events during the emigration see Oregon Historical Quarterly, volume 7, page 329. For his reminiscences of the emigration see Oregon Pioneers Association Transactions for 1875. The diary describes a severe windstorm on the Columbia River below the Cascades which compelled him to put ashore and finish the day reading The Merry Wives of Windsor. It was this incident that suggested his name to the committee for Nesmith Point. Nesmith was a judge under the provisional government, representative from Polk County, Captain in the Cayuse and other Indian wars, colonel of volunteers in the Yakima War, United States Marshal, and superintendent of Indian affairs. He served in the United States Senate from 1861 to 1867, and although a Democrat, served on the military committee, and upheld the cause of the Union in every possible way. Click HERE for some text on J. W. Nesmith written by T. T. Geer (at the "Ragens" Family Web-Site).
James Willis Nesmith served as representative in Congress from 1873 to 1875, and spent the rest of his life on his farm at Rickreall, Oregon, where he died June 17, 1885.

• Went to Ohio in 1830.
• Came West with wagon train in 1843. Was among first Oregon settlers.
• Judge of Provisional Government. of Oregon Territory in 1846.
• Command. Captain. volunteers in Cayuse War 1845.
• U.S. Marshall for Oregon 1848.
• In Yakima war with Indians 1853-55.
• Superintendent. Indian Affairs for Oregon Territory 1855-56.
• Member U.S. Senate from Oregon 1861-67.
• Member Board of Visitors U.S. Military Academy 1866.
• Road Superintendent Polk Co., Oregon 1868.
• Member U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon 43rd Congress, Dec. 1, 1873-1875.
• He was at Gold Creek Montana Sept. 8, 1883 when R. C. Davis drove the last railroad spike that connected the Northern Pacific Railroad from East to West.
• Grandfather of Clifton Nesmith McArthur (born 1879 - died 1923) - United States Congressman
• Cousin of Joseph Gardner Wilson (born 1826 - died 1873) - United States Congressman
• See the map of Oregon to the right for the location of Nesmith Point (the star in the center marks the spot)

[ Find James Willis Nesmith in the Naesmyth Family Tree]